Nazim: USD 30M required to complete FDC flats still pending

Parliament’s Deputy Speaker, Dhiggaru MP Ahmed Nazim states an additional USD 30 million is needed to complete the 4,000 housing units being developed by Fahi Dhiriulhun Corporation (FDC) in Hulhumale’ Phase II.

While debating on the budget proposed for next year at Monday’s parliamentary sitting, Nazim accused the former administration of proceeding with housing projects without planning based on information he had come across during his time at various parliamentary committees.

As an example, he said an additional USD 30 million is needed to complete the 4,000 housing units being developed by FDC; a project initiated during the former administration. According to Nazim, this is because the project had not been contracted in a manner that allowed its completion.

“No funds were included for electrical wiring [at the flats]. No funds were included for water piping. No funds were included for matters related to [the building’s] security. How can it be made tenantable then? There is no way people can live there. The financing has not been secured,” he said.

Nazim detailed that 2,000 of the 4,000 flats were built with 85 percent funding from India’s EXIM Bank. He stressed that the Maldivian government, which is to cover the remaining 15 percent, has yet to disburse the funds. 

The 4,000 units being developed by FDC in Hulhumale’ Phase II are the first of housing units being built under the ‘Gedhoruveriya’ scheme, a social housing project launched by the former administration.

The list of recipients of the flats, which was released during the last days of the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) administration, was the subject of an investigation by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC). The corruption watchdog ordered for the suspension of the issuance of flats, before finally giving the Housing Ministry the go-ahead to proceed in February.

Housing Ministry has provided different dates to publish the list, yet failed to deliver every time. In this regard, the Ministry last said the list would be publicized by the end of last week but released a statement saying it needs more time to finish re-evaluating all the application forms.

Subsequently, members of the public entered the Housing Ministry building yesterday in protest, expressing their dissatisfaction over the delays.